• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.35-45
• /
• 2006

Plants of Vitex negundo are known to develop numerous trichomes throughout their body, where certain trichome types have been believed to be one of the plausible structures for the unique scents. In the current study. structural aspects of the trichomes have been examined in leaves and stems of Vitex negundo using TEM and SEM. Trichome types as well as structural changes that occurred in certain trichomes during secretion have been mainly focused. Three type of glandular trichomes and two types of non-glandular trichomes were developed in the epidermis of young and mature Vitex negundo plants. The glandular trichomes included the peltate type (Type 1), the capitate type (Type 2), and degraded capitate type (Type 3), whereas the non-glandular warty trichomes contained the multicellular (Types 4) and unicellular type (Type 5). Type 1 and 2 consisted of head and stalk cells, but their number and size were different. One secretory cavity was formed from the four head cells in the former, but only two head cells were involved in the latter. The cytoplasmic density in the head cell was quite high and in particular, sER and Golgi bodies were well developed. At initiation of their development, the cuticle layer of the head cells separated from the outer tangential wall to form a secretory cavity. Subsequently the cavity expanded acropetally and a large number of secretory vesicles continuously produced from the head cells until they filled the entire cavity. The cavity contained materials that would be soon discharged into intercellular spaces and/or into the air. The cavity began to decrease the volume by contracting at initial secretion but degrade rapidly within short time. It has been suggested that the mode of secretion in V. negundo is probably the eccrine secretion, since no break or rupture of the cavity has been observed during examination. Contrastingly Type 3 exhibited deterioration of the head cell at early stage. Type 4 was about $110{\sim}190{\mu}m$ long, consisting of $2{\sim}3$ cells, and distributed more in the adaxial epidermis compared to the abaxial surface. However, $20{\sim}30{\mu}m$ long Type 5 was extremely dense in both epidermis. Among several trichome types, Type 1 and 2 probably play an important role in discharging unique aromatic scents in plants of V. negundo.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.35-46
• /
• 2011

The seed morphology of 22 taxa (12 genera) of Solanaceae in Korea was studied by stereo and scanning electron microscopy, and a detailed description of seed morphological features for all examined taxa is provided. The color of the seed is yellow to black, and the shape is reniform to circular. Its size is 0.56-4.29 mm in length and 0.38-3.20 mm in width. The largest sample was found in Datural metel, while the smallest was in Petunia hybrida. Three different surface types (verrucate, verrucate-reticulate, and reticulate) were recognized in the studied taxa. The top of the anticlinal wall produces appendages known as 'fibrils'. This projection of anticlinal wall was found to be specific to the genus Solanum (S. japonense, S. lyratum, and S. lycopersicum). The morphological features (seed shape, size, color, hilum shape, surface type, and fibrils) of the family Solanaceae in Korea are described and their systematic implications are briefly discussed.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.21-28
• /
• 2008

Carnivorous plants vary in their unique features of morphology, ultrastructure and biochemical properties by species. Furthermore, prey-capturing mechanism as well as structural and physiological adaptations have been used for grouping various carnivorous species. In Drosera plants, glandular trichomes, which develop in the leaf epidermis, are known to play the most important role during the prey capturing process. The present study examined such trichomes, focusing on the glandular type, in leaves of Drosera anglica using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Three types of rudimentary glandular trichomes were found to develop within the folded leaf primordia and immature leaf during early development. The first type, stalked glandular trichomes (Type I), occurred on the margin and upper epidermis of the leaf. With maturation, the longest glandular trichomes having lengthy stalks, ca. $2.2{\sim}5.1\;mm$, developed along the margin, while shorter stalked trichomes, ca. up to $200\;{\mu}m$, were found on the inner leaf blade. The shorter ones consisted of a globose head having two layers of secretory cells, parenchyma bell cells and tracheids and a multicellular stalk. The stalks gradually decreased in length in centripetal fashion. The second type, Type II, having ca. $15{\sim}30\;{\mu}m$ short stalks, also developed along the inner blade. Both types secreted mucilage from the secretory cells which had a thin cell wall and cuticle layer. The sessile six-celled glandular trichomes were the third type, Type III, and were $25{\sim}40\;{\mu}m$ in length. They were distributed most commonly throughout the upper and lower epidermis, petiole and even on the stalk surfaces of the first two types of trichomes. The third type was also found to be involved in the active secretion. In prey capturing leaves, all trichome types secreted substances through thin cuticles in the head cell wall, which exhibited relatively loose wall components.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.119-131
• /
• 2014

A comparative study of leaf anatomy in tribe Sorbarieae (Adenostoma, Chamaebatiaria, Sorbaria, Spiraeanthus) including one related genus Lyonothamnus was carried out using light microscopy. Anatomical characteristics of the leaf blade and midrib were described and taxonomically evaluated. The anatomical characters which described in this study are as follows: thickness of leaf midrib, blade in cross section, cuticle, epidermal cell, stoma, trichome, mesophyll, crystal, main vasculature type. All features were compared and the vascular patterns of midrib were distinguished two types. - Type 1: Trace tripartite (Adenostoma), Type 2: Trace continuous, subtype 2A: flat arc (Chamaebatiaria, Spiraeanthus), subtype 2B: U-shape arc (Lyonothamnus, Sorbaria). In conclusion, some of leaf anatomical characters (e.g., cuticle, epidermal cell, trichome, mesophyll, main vasculature type) can be useful for diagnostic features. Hypostomatic type, dorsiventral mesophyll, Ushape vasculature type would constitute a major characters for genus Sorbaria in Sorbarieae. The detailed anatomical description of studied taxa is provided, and its systematic importance is also briefly discussed.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.421-433
• /
• 2003

To examine the leaf epidermal microstructure, nine species in five genera (Daphne L. - 4 spp., Diarthron Turcz. - 1 sp., Edgewarthia Meisn. - 1 sp., Stellera L. - 1 sp., Wikstroemia Endl. - 2 spp.) of the Korean Thymelaeaceae were investigated by light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The stomata of stuo야ed taxa were 'hypostomatic type' and the size range of guard cell was $13.8-34.4{\times}8.7-22.9{\mu}m$: the smallest size of stomata was found in Diathran linifolium ($15.9{\pm}2.6{\times}10.0{\pm}1.3{\mu}m$), while the largest one was measured to Daphne adara ($32.8{\pm}1.6{\times}20.7{\pm}1.3{\mu}m$). The stomatal complex was anomocytic in the most studied taxa, except Daphne kiusiana by having combined with anisocytic together. The shapes of epidermal cells are undulate anticlinal wall. The size range of epidermal cell was $20.7-61.0{\mu}m$; the smallest size of epidermal cell was found in Stellera charnaejasme ($26.0{\pm}1.9{\mu}m$), on the other hand the largest one was found in Edgeworthia chrysantha ($53.6{\pm}3.1{\mu}m$). The well-developed flaky epicuticular waxes can be divided three kinds of pattern - (1) smooth in comparison, not entire platelets and scattered, (2) isolated flake-like platelets, mostly paralleled, sparsely, (3) flake-like platelets, flat, membraneous, protruding from the surfaces at varying angles and densely. Two types of trichome are recognized; (1) Type I: uniseriate trichome of striate surface (D. genkwa, Diarthron linifalium, E. chrysantha, W. ganpi and W. trichotama), (2) Type II: multicellular trichome of papillose surface, uncinated 3-4 nodes (Diathron linifolium). Finally, the systematics significance of the leaf micromorphological features in identification and elucidation of Korean Thymelaeaceae, especially between or within the genera including among the species is also briefly discussed.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.57-64
• /
• 2009

The trapping leaves of Drosera capture insects by secreting sticky mucilage from numerous glandular trichomes (GTs) that are developed on the leaf epidermis. The present study examines and compares the structural features of those trichomes in Drosera binata and D. pygmy with the use of light and electron microscopy. The study focuses primarily on the development and differentiation pattern of the GTs during growth. Upon examination, the upper and lower epidermis were readily distinguishable by the features of GTs in developing leaves. In particular, the GTs were dense in the upper epidermis and along the leaf margin. In D. binata, the capitate GTs with elongated stalk and sessile peltate GTs were found most commonly, whereas only capitate GTs with varying degrees of the stalk length were observed in D. pygmy. Up to ca. $2.2{\sim}3.4\;mm$ long capitate GTs were seen in the leaf margins of D. binata and ca. $3.7{\sim}4.2\;mm$ long GTs having racket-like head with adaxial hemispheric structures, otherwise known as tentacles, were noted in the leaf margin of D. pygmy. The peltate GTs were found to be distributed in the lower epidermis of D. binata. In both species, head cells were dense with cytoplasm containing high numbers of Golgi bodies, ER, mitochondria and small vesicles. Secretory materials accumulated within numerous small vacuoles, then fused together to form a single large vacuole, which serves as a secretory cavity. Flection movement of the marginal GTs and leaf blade GTs, and increased mucilage secretion from the head cells upon contact with prey during the capturing process are considered to be major factors in their active insectivorous mechanism. The findings of this study will be useful in comparisons to similar findings in other species that form adhesive trapping leaves, such as Drosophyllum or Pinguicula., further contributing a better understanding of the function and structure of the trapping leaves of carnivorous plants.